Tag Archives: Windsor Avenue

W. Brandis & Co. Ltd. margarine and bakers products

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Company that started off as bakers’ sundriesmen, as listed in the 1938 commercial directory at 10 Commonside East, and then moved to the James Estate in Western Road, where these photos were taken. They have been kindly provided by a fellow on the Facebook group Mitcham History:

Photo taken at the premises on the James Estate.

The delivery vans have the slogan “Brandis of Mitcham”. This building looks like the admin block on the former Holborn Union Workhouse, the site of the James Trading Estate.

This is from a sketch in the 1886 issue of The Builder, available on archives.org

23 October 1886 issue of The Builder. Western Road is in the foreground.

At the Mitcham Carnival on Three Kings Piece. On the ‘wall’ is a shield with ‘E II R’, which implies that the photo was taken after the coronation Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The caption underneath reads “Brandis News. We serve the bakery trade”

In the 1954 telephone directory they were listed at

132 Western Road

From the 1954 phone book.

The 1971 telephone directory has them listed in Windsor Avenue:

1971 telephone directory

The company wasn’t mentioned in the 1930 commercial directory. The address of 10 Commonside East in the 1938 directory shows that they were based on the Windmill Trading Estate on the corner of Commonside East and Windmill Road. This was also the location of Tower Creameries and Mitcham Maid margarine.

From the British Newspaper Archives:

Streatham News – Friday 31 December 1948

Stole From Employer – Seen Loading Drums Of Olive Oil

TWO men charged with stealing 10 five gallons drums of olive oil, valued at £95, and a third with £30 at Wallington on Tuesday lastweek. They were Sidney George Webb (aged 27), despatch labourer, Sabine Road, Battersea, and William Smith (aged 27), foreman, Barcombe-avenue, Streatham Hill, charged with stealing, and John Michael Riordan (aged 37), lorry driver, Victoria-rise, Clapham, charged with receiving. Police stated that at Mitcham Police Station on December 8, Webb and Smith were told by the manager of Messrs. Brandis and Company, Western-road, Mitcham, where they were employed, that they had been seen the previous day loading the drums of olive oil on to a van. It was driven away by Smith, and when the vans returned the drums were missing. Told they would be taken into custody, Smith said: “Yes, I did do it,” while Webb replied: “That’s right, I loaded them on the lorry.”

The drums of oil were found at Riordan’s premises, and Riordan declared: “I bought them from a couple of blokes at Brandis’s, Mitcham, where I deliver.” Smith was stated to have been a policeman discharged on medical grounds. Webb told the court he committed the offence owing to the financial strain imposed by the “coming of his child”; Smith added that he was sorry, and would do his best if given another chance, while Riordan explained that he was looking forward to having his first Christmas at home—the first in nine years.

Webb and Smith were fined £5 each, and Riordan £20, with the alternative of two months’ imprisonment. All three were given 14 days to pay.

Streatham News – Friday 19 August 1938

REPRESENTATIVES, sell margarine to bakers; liberal commission. — Apply Brandis, Commonside East, Mitcham.

1827 auction of Patent Steam Laundry at Phipps Bridge

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clip from Merton Memories reference Mit_Work_Industry_2-3

From the Sun (London) – Wednesday 08 August 1827, via the British Newspaper Archive

The Patent Steam Washing Company’s Valuable and Extensive Premises, at Phipps-bridge, Mitcham, Surrey, with Two Steam Engines, and all the Capital Machinery.

TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION,
By WINSTANLEY and SONS,

At the Mart, on TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, at Twelve, in One Lot, by Order of the Assignees, and with consent of the Mortgagees.

THE Valuable and Extensive PREMISES, comprising a newly-erected Building about two hundred and fourteen feet long and sixty-one feet wide, situate adjoining that well-known and fine stream the River Wandle. Together with Two Steam Engines, one of ten-horse and the other six-horse power ; seven large washing wheels, an Hydraulic Press of immense power, with ironing and calendering apparatus, and all other suitable fittings and machinery for the various departments, and forming one of the most complete establishments of the kind in the Kingdom, and the whole is easily applicable for a Brewery, Calico Printing, and many other descriptions of manufacture.

Also, very extensive Stabling, Coach or Waggon-houses, Yards, &c. The above Premises are holden by Lease for Ninety-nine Years, at £31 10s. per annum.

Likewise a New Brick Erection fitted up as a Dyehouse, containing several large Coppers, with Leaden Cisterns and other apparatus of the most approved constructions, and upon a very excellent scale, held for thirty years, at £9 per annum.

And a Field of Meadow Land, about Fifteen Acres, well calculated for a Drying or Bleaching Ground, with a Timber Building about 110 feet long and 21 wide, fitted up as a canteen, and supplied with suitable cooking apparatus and appendages.

To be viewed by Tickets only, which with particulars l may be had of Mr. de Mole, solicitor, at Merchant Tailors’ , Hall ; of Messrs.. Rankin and Rickards, solicitors, Basinghall-street ;of Messrs. Gregson and Fonnergau, Angel Court, Throgmorton-street ; and of Winstanley and Sons, Paternoster-row ; particulars may also be had at the Buck’s Head, Mitcham ; Greyhound, and King’s Arms, Croydon ; the King’s Arms, Carshalton ; Spread Eagle, Epsom ; Griffin, and Castle, Kingston ; of Thomas Winstanley and Son, at Liverpool and at Manchester ; and at the Inns at Glasgow.

From the Sun (London) – Wednesday 08 August 1827, via the British Newspaper Archive.

The ‘Field of Meadow Land, about 15 acres’, is likely to be the area shown on this 1894 OS map on the west side of the river Wandle with the horizontal lines. Using the National Library of Scotland’s area measurement tool, this area is 0.06 square kilometres, or 14 acres. Currently this area is the site of Wimbledon Studios on Windsor Avenue.

1893 OS map